The Coppergate Helmet: Anglo-Saxon Helmet Found In York

The Coppergate Helmet is an Anglo-Saxon helmet found in York, discovered in 1982 during excavations.

The helmet is one of six Anglo-Saxon helmets known to have survived to the present day, and is by far the best preserved.

It is made of iron and copper alloy and dates to the second half of the 8th century.

The helmet is stylistically Northumbrian and has many unique details.

It has two low crests of brass, one running from front to back, the other from side to side, forming a cross shape when viewed from above.

The brass banding within the crests bears a Latin inscription: ‘In the name of our Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and God; and to all we say Amen / Oshere / Christ.’

Its intricate design suggests that it was a symbol of status and power, probably worn by a high-ranking individual.

While it could provide some protection, its primary role was to signify the wearer’s authority and position within society.

The helmet was fortunately unearthed on May 12, 1982, during the construction of the Jorvik Viking Centre in York, North Yorkshire.

The York Archaeological Trust had previously excavated an area of 1,000 square metres between 1976 and 1981, uncovering evidence of Roman activity but little trace of Anglo-Saxon presence.

During the construction of the Viking Centre, an excavator operator using a flat scraper bucket to remove the natural clay in thin layers hit an object.

The foreman paused the work to check the object's size, initially thinking it was a stone.

When he brushed away the dust, he revealed the golden band at the top of the helmet and promptly informed the on-site archaeologists.

The helmet had to be removed quickly to prevent corrosion from exposure to air after more than a millennium and for security reasons.

It was placed on crumpled paper in a plastic bowl and stored overnight in the "strong room" of the Borthwick Institute of Historical Research at the University of York.

It is undoubtedly the best-preserved Anglo-Saxon example discovered, although its violent excavation caused considerable damage.

The excavator seems to have struck near the top of the rear right side, shearing off rivets and breaking apart the rear infill plate.

The front infill plate was dislodged, and the lateral band was broken off and bent.

This impact crumpled the lateral inscription band and broke it into three pieces, with the rear edge pieces lost entirely—possibly flung across the construction site.

Additionally, the rear right portion of the nose-to-nape band was driven inward. The impact likely also caused a missing section along the rear left brow band, which may have already corroded before disintegrating on impact.

The suspension strip, from which the camail would have hung, was also missing in this area, though it might have been removed before the helmet was buried.

Today, the helmet is part of the permanent collection at the Yorkshire Museum and it has featured in numerous public exhibitions since its discovery.

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